Urban expansion towards volcanic hazards

Population growth around volcanoes exposes millions of people worldwide to the risks of volcanic activity. Current global assessments of volcanic exposure of urban areas primarily rely on distance from volcanoes and zones of highest population density. While effective for identifying global hotspots of high exposure, these methods lack the nuance needed for localised or regional analyses, such as including less densely populated suburban areas, or topographic effects to hazards. By examining spatio-temporal trends of urban expansion in relation to modelled volcanic hazard locations, this project aims to provide a more detailed understanding of urban sprawl and its interaction with volcanic hazards on different scales. The findings will help identify key areas where land-use planning and mitigation efforts can be most effectively targeted.